Americans spent $6B on broken iPhones

By Walter Pacheco, Orlando Sentinel

Days before most Apple fans get their hands on the iPhone 5, a new report shows Americans spent nearly $6 billion on repairing iPhones that were dropped, kicked, plunged into a toilet, or suffered some other damaging accident.

Square Trade, an electronics protection plan provider, today released a report detailing how most iPhone users have damaged their devices. The report used data from 2,000 users compiled since Apple introduced the iPhone in 2007.

The report shows that accidental damage is 10 times greater than loss or theft. Younger consumers also are the clumsiest with their pricey devices.

While wireless carriers and Apple sell insurance plans that cover iPhones, most users do not purchase these and resort to quick fixes. About 11 percent of iPhone owners walk around with cracked screens.

I've run into several Orlando-based app developers who preferred using their cracked older model iPhones while they waited for the next generation iPhone to be released. Despite the cracked glass, none reported finger damage.

About 6 percent of iPhone users also wrap their devices in cellophane tape to keep shattered glass and other broken parts from falling off, the report shows.

A good piece of advice to anyone who purchases any smartphone: Invest in a sturdy case to protect your device. If the cases at brick-and-mortar retailers and Apple stores are too expensive, check out better prices and selection on eBay and Amazon.

Gary Davis is the co-owner and co-founder of United World Soccer, a sporting equipment, jersey and team merchandise retailer. The Orlando-based business has stores in Florida Mall, Brandon, Clearwater and moved last week into a new space at Downtown Disney. He spoke recently staff writer Kyle Arnold.